During French President Emmanuel Macron's fourth visit to India from 17th to 19th February 2026 and meeting with PM Narendra Modi, both leaders held bilateral talks and signed 21 key agreements. They jointly inaugurated the 2026 India-France Years of Innovation in Mumbai on 17th February 2026.
Both leaders agreed to elevate the ties of both countries to a "Special Global Strategic Partnership" to strengthen bilateral cooperation across defence, critical minerals, advanced technologies, health, education, climate action, and economic security.
Building on the India-France Strategic Partnership launched in 1998 and the 2047 Roadmap adopted in 2023, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the partnership, both leaders also agreed to establish an annual Foreign Ministers Comprehensive Dialogue to review progress.
Held wide-ranging talks with President Macron in Mumbai. Today’s meeting assumes significance because we have elevated the India-France relationship to a Special Global Strategic Partnership. Ours is a partnership for global stability and progress. We discussed cooperation in… pic.twitter.com/Ux7P4bG8Be
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 17, 2026
The discussions also tabled the production of HAMMER missiles in India and the introduction of AI in health at New Delhi's AIIMS. Both also virtually inaugurated an assembly line in Karnataka's Vemagal to build the Airbus H125 helicopter, which is expected to boost India's aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
Following the "mother of all deals" signed between India and the European Union, French President Macron hailed the key agreements signed during this visit as a "great deal". Further building on the academic collaborations, France also aims to host 30,000 Indian students by 2030, up from 10,000 currently.
List of Key Pacts Signed Between India and France during French President Macron's India Visit 2026
Let us quickly look at the key pacts that India and France signed during Macron's fourth visit to India.

- Launching the India-France Year of Innovation
- Launching the India-France Innovation Network
- Establishment of an annual Foreign Ministers Dialogue to review Horizon 2047 roadmap
- Inaugurating India's first Assembly Line to build H125 Helicopter at Vemagal, Karnataka
- Renewing the defence cooperation and the Joint Venture between BEL and Safran to produce HAMMER missiles in India
- Reciprocal deployment of officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments
- Upgrading India-France relations to a "Special Global Strategic Partnership"
- Constituting a Joint Advanecd Technology Development Group for Critical and Emerging Technologies
- Joint Declaration of Intent for Cooperation in Critical Minerals and Metals
- Letter of Intent to establish a Centre on Advanced Materials between DST and CNRS
- MoU for scientific collaboration between DST and CNRS
- Amendment to the Protocol on the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement between India and France
- Letter of Intent between T-Hub and Nord France on strategic cooperation in startup ecosystem
- Joint Declaration of Intent to establish an Indo-French Centre for Digital Sciences
- Launch of Indo-French Centre for AI in Health in AIIMS, New Delhi
- Letter of Intent between DBT and ANRS for cooperation in Research and Development on Infectious Diseases and Global Health Research
- Agreement for establishment of the Indo-French Centre for Metabolic Health Sciences
- Letter of Intent to establish a National Centre of Excellence in Skilling in Aeronautics
- Renewal of MoU on renewable energy cooperation
- Letter of Intent between Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, and La Poste, France
- Renewal of Agreement between India and France on Defence Cooperation
French President Macron has invited PM Modi to attend the G7 Summit to be hosted by France in 2026.
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